Pair

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Pair, n. [F. paire, LL. paria, L. paria, pl. of par pair, fr. par, adj., equal. Cf. Apparel, Par equality, Peer an equal.].

•  Two things of a kind, similar in form, suited to each other, and intended to be used together; as, a pair of gloves or stockings; a pair of shoes.  [1913 Webster]

  "[Now mostly or quite disused.]"  [1913 Webster]

  "Two crowns in my pocket, two pair of cards."  [1913 Webster]
•  Two of a sort; a span; a yoke; a couple; a brace; as, a pair of horses; a pair of oxen.  [1913 Webster]
•  A married couple; a man and wife.  [1913 Webster]
•  A single thing, composed of two pieces fitted to each other and used together; as, a pair of scissors; a pair of pants; a pair of tongs; a pair of bellows.  [1913 Webster]
•  Two members of opposite parties or opinion, as in a parliamentary body, who mutually agree not to vote on a given question (in order, for example, to allow the members to be absent during the vote without affecting the outcome of the vote), or on issues of a party nature during a specified time; as, there were two pairs on the final vote.
•  In a mechanism, two elements, or bodies, which are so applied to each other as to mutually constrain relative motion.  [1913 Webster]

  "A member who is thus paired with one who would have voted oppositely is said to be paired for or paired against a measure, depending on the member's position."  [1913 Webster]

Pair royal (pl. Pairs Royal) three things of a sort; -- used especially of playing cards in some games, as cribbage; as three kings, three “eight spots” etc. Four of a kind are called a double pair royal. “Something in his face gave me as much pleasure as a pair royal of naturals in my own hand.” Goldsmith. “That great pair royal of adamantine sisters [the Fates].” Quarles. [Written corruptly parial and prial.]

Syn. -- Pair, Flight, Set.

Pair, v. i. 

•  To be joined in pairs; to couple; to mate, as for breeding.  [1913 Webster]
•  To suit; to fit, as a counterpart.  [1913 Webster]

  "My heart was made to fit and pair with thine."  [1913 Webster]
•  Same as To pair off. See phrase below.  [1913 Webster]

To pair off, to separate from a group in pairs or couples; specif. (Parliamentary Cant), to agree with one of the opposite party or opinion to abstain from voting on specified questions or issues. See Pair, n., 6.

Pair, v. t. 

•  To unite in couples; to form a pair of; to bring together, as things which belong together, or which complement, or are adapted to one another.  [1913 Webster]

  "Glossy jet is paired with shining white."  [1913 Webster]
•  To engage (one's self) with another of opposite opinions not to vote on a particular question or class of questions.  [1913 Webster]

Paired fins. (Zoöl.) See under Fin.

Pair, v. t. [See Impair.].

 To impair.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Pair, n. & v.
--n.
1 a set of two persons or things used together or regarded as a unit (a pair of gloves; a pair of eyes).
2 an article (e.g. scissors, trousers, or pyjamas) consisting of two joined or corresponding parts not used separately.
3 a an engaged or married couple. b a mated couple of animals.
4 two horses harnessed side by side (a coach and pair).
5 the second member of a pair in relation to the first (cannot find its pair).
6 two playing cards of the same denomination.
7 Parl. either or both of two MPs etc. on opposite sides absenting themselves from voting by mutual arrangement.
--v.tr. & intr.
1 (often foll. by off) arrange or be arranged in couples.
2 a join or be joined in marriage. b (of animals) mate.
3 Parl. form a pair.

Idiom

in pairs in twos. pair production Physics the conversion of a radiation quantum into an electron and a positron. pair royal a set of three cards of the same denomination.

Etymology

ME f. OF paire f. L paria neut. pl. of par equal

THESAURUS

Pair

Gaussian integer, accouple, accumulate, ace, affiliate, agglomerate, agglutinate, aggregate, aggroup, algebraic number, ally, amass, articulate, assemble, associate, band, band together, batch, be in cahoots, best bower, bond, both, bower, brace, bracket, bridge, bridge over, bring together, bulk, bunch, bunch together, bunch up, cabal, cardinal, cardinal number, cards, cement, cement a union, centralize, chain, clap together, club, club together, clubs, clump, cluster, collect, colligate, collocate, combine, come together, compare, compile, complex number, comprise, concatenate, confederate, conglobulate, conglomerate, conjoin, conjugate, connect, consociate, conspire, copulate, corral, couple, couple up, couplet, cover, craps, cumulate, deck, defective number, deuce, diamonds, dig up, distich, double, double harness, double-harness, double-team, doublet, doubleton, draw together, dredge up, drive together, duad, duet, dummy, duo, dyad, embrace, encompass, equipage, even number, face cards, federalize, federate, finite number, flush, four-in-hand, fraction, full house, gang, gang up, gather, gather in, gather together, get in, get together, glue, go in partners, go in partnership, group, hand, hearts, hook up with, imaginary number, impair, include, infinity, integer, irrational, irrational number, jack, join, join forces, join fortunes with, join together, join up with, join with, joker, juxtapose, king, knave, knot, lay together, league, left bower, link, look-alikes, lump together, make up, marry, marshal, mass, match, matching pair, mate, mates, merge, mixed number, mobilize, muster, ordinal, organize, pack, pair off, partner, picture cards, piece together, playing cards, polygonal number, prime number, pure imaginary, put together, queen, raise, rake up, rally, randem, rational, rational number, real, real number, rectangular number, rig, roll into one, round, round number, round up, royal flush, rubber, ruff, scrape together, serial number, set, set of two, singleton, snake eyes, solder, spades, span, spike, spike team, splice, stand together, stand up with, stick together, straight, surd, take in, take up, tandem, tape, team, team up, team up with, team with, the two, three-up, throw in with, tie, tie in with, tie up with, transcendental number, transfinite number, trey, trick, trump, turnout, twain, twin, twins, two, twosome, unicorn, unify, unionize, unite, unite with, wed, weld, whip in, whole number, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

Pair

Similarity

N similarity, resemblance, likeness, similitude, semblance, affinity, approximation, parallelism, agreement, analogy, analogicalness, correspondence, homoiousia, parity, connaturalness, connaturality, brotherhood, family likeness, alliteration, rhyme, pun, repetition, sameness, uniformity, isogamy, analogue, the like, match, pendant, fellow companion, pair, mate, twin, double, counterpart, brother, sister, one's second self, alter ego, chip of the old block, par nobile fratrum, Arcades ambo, birds of a feather, et hoc genus omne, gens de meme famille, parallel, simile, type, image, photograph, close resemblance, striking resemblance, speaking resemblance, faithful likeness, faithful resemblance, similar, resembling, like, alike, twin, analogous, analogical, parallel, of a piece, such as, so, homoiousian, connatural, congener, allied to, akin to, approximate, much the same, near, close, something like, sort of, in the ballpark, such like, a show of, mock, pseudo, simulating, representing, exact, lifelike, faithful, true to nature, true to life, the very image, the very picture of, for all the world like, comme deux gouttes d'eau, as like as two peas in a pod, as like as it can stare, instar omnium, cast in the same mold, ridiculously like, as if, so to speak, as it were, as if it were, quasi, just as, veluti in speculum, et sic de similibus, tel maitre tel valet, tel pere tel fils, like master, like servant, like father, like son, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, a chip off the old block.

Duality

N duality, dualism, duplicity, biplicity, biformity, polarity, two, deuce, couple, duet, brace, pair, cheeks, twins, Castor and Pollux, gemini, Siamese twins, fellows, yoke, conjugation, dispermy, doublets, dyad, span, two, twin, dual, dualistic, double, binary, binomial, twin, biparous, dyadic, conduplicate, duplex, biduous, binate, diphyletic, dispermic, unijugate, tete-a-tete, coupled, conjugate, both, both the one and the other.

VB pair, couple, bracket, yoke, conduplicate, mate, span.

Amusement

N amusement, entertainment, recreation, fun, game, fun and games, diversion, divertissement, reaction, solace, pastime, passetemps, sport, labor of love, pleasure, relaxation, leisure, fun, frolic, merriment, jollity, joviality, jovialness, heyday, laughter, jocosity, jocoseness, drollery, buffoonery, tomfoolery, mummery, pleasantry, wit, quip, quirk, giggle, titter, snigger, snicker, crow, cheer, chuckle, shout, horse laugh, belly laugh, hearty laugh, guffaw, burst of laughter, fit of laughter, shout of laughter, roar of laughter, peal of laughter, cachinnation, Kentish fire, tiger, play, game, game at romps, gambol, romp, prank, antic, rig, lark, spree, skylarking, vagary, monkey trick, gambade, fredaine, escapade, echappee, bout, espieglerie, practical joke, dance, hop, reel, rigadoon, saraband, hornpipe, bolero, ballroom dance, minuet, waltz, polka, fox trot, tango, samba, rhumba, twist, stroll, hustle, cha-cha, fandango, cancan, bayadere, breakdown, cake-walk, cornwallis, break dancing, nautch-girl, shindig, skirtdance, stag dance, Virginia reel, square dance, galop, galopade, jig, Irish jig, fling, strathspey, allemande, gavot, gavotte, tarantella, mazurka, morisco, morris dance, quadrille, country dance, folk dance, cotillon, Sir Roger de Coverley, ballet, ball, bal, bal masque, bal costume, masquerade, Terpsichore, festivity, merrymaking, party, blowout, hullabaloo, hoedown, bat, bum, bust, clambake, donation party, fish fry, jamboree, kantikoy, nautch, randy, squantum, tear, Turnerfest, yule log, fete, festival, gala, ridotto, revels, revelry, reveling, carnival, brawl, saturnalia, high jinks, feast, banquet, regale, symposium, wassail, carouse, carousal, jollification, junket, wake, Irish wake, picnic, fete champetre, regatta, field day, treat, round of pleasures, dissipation, a short life and a merry one, racketing, holiday making, rejoicing, jubilee, bonfire, fireworks, feu-de-joie, firecracker, holiday, gala day, red letter day, play day, high days and holidays, high holiday, Bank holiday, May day, Derby day, Saint Monday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Bairam, wayz-goos, bean feast, Arbor Day, Declaration Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving Day, Mardi gras, mi-careme, feria, fiesta, place of amusement, theater, hall, concert room, ballroom, assemblyroom, music hall, park, plaisance, national park, national forest, state park, county park, city park, vest-pocket park, public park (public), arbor, garden, pleasure ground, playground, cricketground, croquet ground, archery ground, hunting ground, tennis court, racket court, bowling alley, green alley, croquet lawn, rink, glaciarum, skating rink, roundabout, merry-go-round, swing, montagne Russe, game of chance, game of skill, athletic sports, gymnastics, archery, rifle shooting, tournament, pugilism, sports, horse racing, the turf, aquatics, skating, sliding, cricket, tennis, lawn tennis, hockey, football, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, rackets, fives, trap bat and ball, battledore and shuttlecock, la grace, pall- mall, tipcat, croquet, golf, curling, pallone, polo, water polo, tent pegging, tilting at the ring, quintain, greasy pole, quoits, horseshoes, discus, rounders, lacrosse, tobogganing, water polo, knurr and spell, leapfrog, hop skip and jump, mother may I, French and English, tug of war, blindman's bluff, hunt the slopper, hide and seek, kiss in the ring, snapdragon, cross questions and crooked answers, crisscross, hopscotch, jacks, jackstones, marbles, mumblety-peg, mumble-the-peg, pushball, shinney, shinny, tag, billiards, pool, pingpong, pyramids, bagatelle, bowls, skittles, ninepins, kain, American bowls, tenpins, tivoli, cards, card games, whist, rubber, round game, loo, cribbage, besique, euchre, drole, ecarte, picquet, allfours, quadrille, omber, reverse, Pope Joan, commit, boston, boaston, blackjack, twenty- one, vingtun, quinze, thirty-one, put, speculation, connections, brag, cassino, lottery, commerce, snip-snap-snoren, lift smoke, blind hookey, Polish bank, Earl of Coventry, Napoleon, patience, pairs, banker, blind poker, draw poker, straight poker, stud poker, bluff, bridge, bridge whist, lotto, monte, three-card monte, nap, penny-ante, poker, reversis, squeezers, old maid, fright, beggar-my- neighbor, baccarat, ace, king, queen, knave, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, trey, deuce, joker, trump, wild card, spades, hearts, clubs, diamonds, major suit, minor suit, bower, right bower, left bower, dummy, jackpot, deck, pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full-house, four of a kind, royal flush, misere chess, draughts, checkers, checquers, backgammon, dominos, merelles, nine men's morris, go bang, solitaire, game of fox and goose, monopoly, loto, scrabble, scribbage, boggle, crossword puzzle, hangman, morra, gambling, toy, plaything, bauble, doll, teetotum, knickknack, magic lantern, peep show, puppet show, raree show, gallanty show, toy shop, quips and cranks and wanton wiles, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, entertainer, showman, showgirl, dancer, tap dancer, song-and-dance man, vaudeville act, singer, musician, sportsman, gamester, reveler, master of ceremonies, master of revels, pompom girl, arbiter elegantiarum, arbiter bibendi, archer, fan, toxophilite, turfman, amusing, entertaining, diverting, recreational, recreative, lusory, pleasant, laughable, witty, fun, festive, festal, jovial, jolly, jocund, roguish, rompish, playful, playful as a kitten, sportive, ludibrious, funny, very funny, hilarious, uproarious, side-splitting, amused, pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw, laughing, risible, ready to burst, ready to split, ready to die with laughter, convulsed with laughter, rolling in the aisles, on the light fantastic toe, at play, in sport, Int, vive la bagatelle!, vogue la galere!, deus nobis haec otia fecit, dum vivimus vivamus, dulce est desipere in loco, (every room) hath blazed with lights and brayed wi, misce stullitiam consiliis brevem.